Rivals100 OT commits to UNC

Woody Wommack | Analyst

North Carolina has been after Rivals100 Charlotte (N.C.) Ardrey Kell offensive tackle Mason Veal for months, and after getting an up close and personal view of the Tar Heels team during a practice on Friday, Veal made the call for UNC.

Veal confirmed to Rivals.com via that he committed to North Carolina, choosing the Tar Heels over Clemson, South Carolina and others.

"It has the academics for me and they made me feel like part of the family before I even committed," the 6-foot-5, 295-pound Veal said.

Veal has been a regular in Chapel Hill over the past few months, visiting for junior night last month and then coming to campus again this week to take in a practice.

His relationship with the Tar Heels coaches helped UNC overcome strong family ties to South Carolina, where both of Veal's parents attended school. Despite growing up as a fan of the Gamecocks, Veal made it clear that this was his decision to make.

"At the end of the day it's not my parents' decision back in the 1980s, it's my decision now," Veal told Rivals.com back in September.

Veal becomes the highest-ranked player in the Tar Heels' 2015 class, and third four-star prospect to pledge to the school.